
Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ...............................  10
Service and warranty information ..  10
Important notice for California 
retail buyers and lessees of 
Mercedes-Benz automobiles ..........  11
Maintenance ..................................  12
Roadside Assistance ......................  12
Change of address or ownership....  12
Operating your vehicle outside 
the USA or Canada.........................  13
Where to find it ....................................  14
Symbols ...............................................  15
Operating safety ..................................  16
Proper use of the vehicle ...............  16
Problems with your vehicle ..................  17
Reporting safety defects......................  18
Reporting safety defects ................  18
Vehicle data recording.........................  19
Information regarding electronic
recording devices...........................  19
At a glance.......................................... 21
Cockpit ................................................. 22
Instrument cluster ................................ 24
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 26
Center console ..................................... 28
Upper part ...................................... 28
Lower part ...................................... 29
Overhead control panel ........................ 30
Door control panel................................ 31
Getting started...................................  33
Unlocking .............................................  34
Unlocking with the SmartKey .........  34
Starter switch positions ..................  36
Adjusting ..............................................  38
Seats ..............................................  38
Steering wheel ................................  42
Mirrors ............................................  45
Driving ..................................................  47
Fastening the seat belts .................  47
Starting the engine .........................  50
Parking brake .................................  52
Driving ............................................  53
Switching on headlamps .................  55
Turn signals ....................................  55
Windshield wipers ...........................  56
Problems while driving....................  58
Parking and locking ..............................  59
Parking brake .................................  59
Switching off headlamps.................  60
Turning off engine ...........................  61
Locking ...........................................  62 

ContentsSafety and Security...........................  63
Occupant safety...................................  64
Air bags ..........................................  65
Seat belts .......................................  71
Children in the vehicle ....................  75
Panic alarm ..........................................  80
Activating .......................................  81
Deactivating ...................................  81
Driving safety systems .........................  82
ABS ................................................  82
BAS ................................................  83
ESP
®...............................................  84
Anti-theft systems................................  87
Immobilizer.....................................  87
Anti-theft alarm system ..................  87
Tow-away alarm .............................  88
Controls in detail...............................  91
Locking and unlocking .........................  92
SmartKey .......................................  92
Opening the doors from the inside .  97
Opening the trunk ..........................  98
Closing the trunk............................  99
Trunk lid emergency release ........  100
Automatic central locking ............  101
Locking and unlocking from 
the inside .....................................  102
Seats .................................................  104
Seat heating* ...............................  104
AIRSCARF neck-level heating* .....  105
Memory function* .............................  107
Storing positions into memory .....  108
Recalling positions from memory .  108
Storing exterior rear view mirror 
parking position (parking aid).......  108
Lighting..............................................  110
Exterior lamp switch.....................  110
Combination switch .....................  114
Corner-illuminating front fog 
lamps* (SLK 280, SLK 350: with 
Bi-Xenon* headlamps and without 
Sport Package*)...........................  115Hazard warning flasher ................  117
Interior lighting ............................  117
Door entry lamps .........................  119
Instrument cluster .............................  120
Instrument cluster illumination ....  120
Tachometer ..................................  121
Outside temperature indicator .....  121
Trip odometer ..............................  122
Clock............................................  122
Control system ..................................  123
Multifunction display....................  123
Multifunction steering wheel........  124
Menus ..........................................  126
Standard display menu ................  128
AUDIO menu ................................  129
NAV* menu ..................................  132
Vehicle status message 
memory menu ..............................  132
Settings menu ..............................  134
Trip computer menu.....................  149
TEL menu* ...................................  151
Manual transmission .........................  155
Shifting into reverse .....................  156
Automatic transmission* ...................  157
Gear selector lever position .........  159
Gear ranges .................................  160 

Contents
Practical hints.................................  361
What to do if … ..................................  362
Lamps in instrument cluster ........  362
Lamp in center console................  367
Vehicle status messages in the 
multifunction display ....................  368
Where will I find...? ............................  388
First aid kit ...................................  388
Vehicle tool kit, vehicle jack.........  388
Spare wheel with collapsible tire..  391
Spare wheel bolts ........................  392
Unlocking/locking in an emergency ..  394
Unlocking the vehicle ...................  394
Locking the vehicle ......................  395
Manually unlocking the gear 
selector lever 
(automatic transmission*) ...........  396
Opening/closing in an emergency.....  397
Raising retractable hardtop 
manually ......................................  397
Replacing SmartKey batteries ...........  398
SmartKey .....................................  399Replacing bulbs .................................. 400
Bulbs ............................................. 401
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 403
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 405
Replacing wiper blades....................... 406
Removing wiper blades ................. 406
Installing wiper blades .................. 407
Flat tire ............................................... 408
Preparing the vehicle .................... 408
Sealing tires with TIREFIT.............. 408
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 412
Battery................................................ 421
Disconnecting the battery............. 422
Removing the battery.................... 422
Charging and reinstalling battery .. 423
Reconnecting the battery.............. 423
Jump starting ...................................... 424
Towing the vehicle .............................. 426
Installing towing eye bolt .............. 428
Fuses .................................................. 430
Aids for replacing fuses ................ 430
Main fuse box in passenger 
compartment ................................ 431
Fuse box in engine compartment.. 432
Technical data..................................  433
Parts service ......................................  434
Warranty coverage ............................. 435
Loss of Service and Warranty 
Information Booklet ......................  435
Identification labels ............................ 436
Layout of poly-V-belt drive..................  437
SLK 280, SLK 350 ........................ 437
SLK 55 AMG ................................. 437
Engine ................................................  438
Rims and tires ....................................  439
Same size tires ............................. 441
Mixed size tires ............................. 443
Spare wheel with collapsible tire ..  445
Electrical system ................................  446
Main Dimensions................................  447
Weights .............................................. 448 

21 At a glance
Cockpit
Instrument cluster
Multifunction steering wheel
Center console
Overhead control panel
Door control panel 

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Automatic transmission*:
Steering wheel gearshift 
control*
165
SLK 55 AMG:
Steering wheel gearshift 
control
167
2
Multifunction steering 
wheel
26,
124
3
Horn
4
Instrument cluster
24,
120
5
Overhead control panel
30,
117
6
Glove box
266
7
Center console
28, 29
8
Sun sensor for automatic 
climate control*
9
Starter switch
36
Item
Page
a
Steering wheel adjustment 
handle, manual
42
b
Steering wheel adjustment 
lever, electrical*
43
Heated steering wheel* 
(SLK 280, SLK 350, Canada 
only)
288
c
Headlamp cleaning* switch
173
d
Hood lock release
307
e
Exterior lamp switch
55,
110
f
Combination switch
Turn signals
55
Windshield wipers
56
High beam headlamps
55
g
Power window switches
246
h
Door handle
97
j
Cruise control lever
260 

24 At a glanceInstrument cluster

25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Multifunction display 
with:Main odometer
128
Trip odometer
122
Automatic transmission*:
Gear range indicator
51,
158
Automatic transmission*:
Program mode
163,
169
Outside temperature 
indicator (or actual speed 
when selected)
138
2
Tachometer with:?
Engine malfunction 
indicator lamp, 
USA only
364
±
Engine malfunction 
indicator lamp, 
Canada only
364
Item
Page
<
Seat belt telltale
71,
366
A
High beam 
headlamp indicator 
lamp
55,
114
3
Fuel gauge with:4
Fuel reserve warning 
lamp
365
The arrow indicates that the 
fuel filler flap is on the rear 
right-hand side.
304
4
Clock
122
5
Speedometer with:1
Supplemental 
Restraint System 
(SRS) indicator lamp
64,
366
-
Antilock Brake 
System (ABS) 
indicator lamp
82,
362
Item
Page
L
Left turn signal 
indicator lamp
K
Right turn signal 
indicator lamp
55
v
Electronic Stability 
Program (ESP
®) 
warning lamp
84,
365
;
Brake warning lamp, 
USA only
59,
363
3
Brake warning lamp, 
Canada only
363
6
Reset button
120
7
Knobs for instrument 
cluster illumination
120 

36 Getting startedUnlockingStarter switch positions SmartKey
Starter switch0For removing the SmartKey
The steering is locked when the 
SmartKey is removed from the starter 
switch.
1Power supply for some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment.2Ignition (power supply for all electrical 
consumers) and driving position.
All lamps (except high beam headlamp 
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator 
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the 
instrument cluster fails to come on 
when the ignition is switched on, have 
it checked and replaced if necessary. 
If a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or 
comes on while driving, refer to see 
“Lamps in instrument cluster” 
(
page 362).
3Starting position.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the 
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it 
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave 
children unattended in the vehicle, or with 
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause 
an accident and/or serious personal injury.